Virgin Mary wore a hijab, council employees told

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

North Yorkshire council staff attended a training session where the presenter linked the Virgin Mary’s head covering to the hijab to challenge stereotypes about Muslim practices. The session, part of the Project Unity initiative against anti-Muslim hatred, has sparked debate over the inclusion of cultural and religious topics in public sector training.

In a recent training session for North Yorkshire council staff, attendees were told that the Virgin Mary wore a hijab, highlighting historical instances of head coverings in British culture to challenge misconceptions about Muslim practices. The presentation aimed to demonstrate that wearing a headscarf is not incompatible with Western values.

The talk was delivered by Abbas Najib, a former police officer and lawyer, as part of Project Unity, an initiative intended to combat anti-Muslim hatred. Project Unity is connected to the Better Communities Bradford charity and seeks to promote understanding and inclusion.

During the session, Najib explained that the term “hijab” broadly means a shawl or scarf worn over the hair. He pointed to the Virgin Mary, revered in Islam as “the most virtuous woman in history,” as an example of historical head coverings in Western tradition. Najib emphasized that headscarves were commonly worn by British women up until about 100 years ago. He also noted in his presentation that Jesus is often depicted as having a beard, presumably to underscore shared cultural elements between Christianity and Islam.

Najib commented on the reaction his remarks elicited, stating, “That this has been treated as controversial says more about attitudes towards Muslims in parts of our great country than about anything said in the workshop.”

Despite the session being conducted at North Yorkshire council, both the council and North Yorkshire police stated that such presentations were not part of their official training materials. The council did not provide further details on whether the training was commissioned by an external organization or mandated by local authorities.

The event has sparked debate about how cultural and religious education is incorporated into public sector training. Supporters argue that highlighting shared traditions fosters greater mutual respect, while some critics view such sessions as potentially controversial or politically sensitive.

The Project Unity initiative continues to run with the stated goal of addressing prejudice and promoting cohesion across communities in the region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.